WEMU's Andrew Cluley reports on City Council opting to wait to decide if they will buy the Edwards Brothers property.

Ann Arbor City Council will take another two weeks before deciding if they want to purchase the Edwards Brothers property on State Street.

Credit Courtesy photo

The city is considering exercising a right of first refusal to stop the University of Michigan from buying the land.

Mayor John Hieftje doesn't think the recent experience with the former YMCA property will have much influence on this State Street parcel. He says that's because downtown property is in great demand while Edwards Brothers is well south of downtown.

Ann Arbor would have to match U-M's $12.8 million purchase price for the property.

Map of the Edwards Brothers property is here:

City Council last night also postponed action on a first reading of a proposed smoking ban for city parks, bus stops, and entrances to city buildings. The delay is so council members can get feedback from some of the organizations that would be impacted by the proposal.

— Andrew Cluley is the Ann Arbor beat reporter, and anchor for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him acluley@emich.edu.